The Inter-Republican Confederation of Consumer Societies (Konfop) proposed the joint tests at the Russian initiative, she said on Friday. The confederation unites 42 leading consumer rights organizations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

“We were ahead of the authorities – we have purchased wine produced by Bagadoni and Askaneli Brothers and Sarajishvili brandy and held joint tests at accredited laboratories of the three countries. Tests showed the beverages were of high quality and met safety norms,” Koidze said.

In her words, Konfop board chairman Dmitry Yanin is a member of the advisory council of Rospotrebnadzor, which means Russia will learn the test results.

“We plan to have a joint press briefing shortly to present the test outcome,” Koidze said.

There will be similar testing of Georgian mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages, she said.

A mechanism of the admission of Georgian products to the Russian market was coordinated at Russian-Georgian consultations in Moscow in early February.